Electronic Voting Implementation Working Group

During the most recent strike there was a call to revive the Working Group that had been
established in 2015. The Working Group, as per its name, was primarily intended to investigate the potential for implementing electronic voting within the local. During discussion from the floor at the June 2018 SGMM, members suggested that part of the motivation for reviving the Working Group was to investigate ways of making union spaces and engagement in union issues more accessible, including e-voting. With that in mind, the motion specifies the necessity of keeping our equality statement at the forefront of the Working Group’s work. There was also a suggestion that this Working Group liaise with other relevant committees as appropriate. Please note that there is no record of a report from 2015, and member recollections are that no report was ever completed or circulated. E-voting working group objectives and process. 

Objectives:
I. Determine interest within the Local regarding e-voting, as well as engagement levels within
other Locals that already have e-voting
II. Consult with CUPE National as to the constitutionality of e-voting
III. Reach out to CUPE Locals who use e-voting to ask about their experiences
IV. Flag issues within current Bylaws and suggest possible amendments
V. Obtain quotes from union-focused companies providing e-voting services
VI. Summarize different e-voting options
VII. Explore alternatives to e-voting that could allow for increased engagement and
accessibility to the Local’s decision-making processes
VIII. Provide a detailed report on e-voting to the Executive Committee and General Membership

Process:
I. The Working Group will require the cooperation of the Executive Committee, the
Communications Officer, and the Communications Committee in reaching the largest
possible number of members. This may include, but is not limited to, reaching the members
through the official 3903 website (in the form of polling and postings), the forums, mass e-
mailing, and distributing printed surveys/pamphlets.
II. The Working Group (per bylaws) will be open to all interested members, and will operate
through both physical and online meetings.
III. Within three weeks of being established, the Working Group will set up (through a
democratic process) a realistic deadline for accomplishing the objectives, and
communicating the results to the members. Once agreed upon, the deadline will be
communicated to the membership.
IV. The Working Group will be guided by the democratic process, i.e. voting by members on
various issues. The Working Group will not be guided by the Executive Committee. An
Executive Committee member my chose to join the working group, but will not contribute
more than one vote.

E-voting and union participation have been topics of much interest and debate in our local for
several years and some members may have informally compiled ideas about how to proceed. Members should feel encouraged to bring ideas and research to the Working Group, however it should be noted and respected that not all members will have been privy to any such ideas or conversations, and thus the work of the Working Group should begin fresh in a way that allows for full participation of all members. Members interested in being part of the Working Group are thus encouraged to contact Stacey, VPU1 at cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com who will help facilitate the establishment of the Working Group, after which point members will direct the Working Group. Given that there is little recorded information about the original Working Group, a basis of unity will need to be composed.

As per our bylaws:
Article 5 (f): Working groups may be formed to carry out the work of rank and file members.
Working groups shall be open, self-determined, and semi-autonomous, but shall not contravene the local bylaws and must not act so as to undermine the policies duly-enacted by the general membership. A working group may only be formed by a duly executed motion of the general membership which includes the objectives and process of the working group. Working groups are accountable to both the Executive Committee and the general membership.

The motion passed at the SGMM June 27th, 2018: MOTION: WHEREAS discussion online and at GMMs supports the need to work towards improving opportunities to participate in the direction and the decision-making of our local, BIRT the all-units working group that keeps our equality statement at the forefront of this work in terms of technology, security, administration, and in its own practices, including accessible,moderated, collegial face-to-face meetings and the use of a mediator/external Chair/facilitator as necessary, be revived to begin this work ASAP. BIFRT the call for participants begin with circulating the report from the 2015 year.